The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-21
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.


!ie"-ehto DoAofe tho ComnlBblon on the
Fourth Section.
y WASHINGTON, D., O., May 2O.-At the in.
stance of the attorney for the Denver &
Rio Grsnde Railroad Company, the Inter.
State Commerce Commission to-day en-.
larged tue suspensory order in the case Of
The Union Pacific and Southern Pacific
railroads, 80 ns to include the Denver &
Rio Gronds company il Its organization.
Z. G. Stubbs, General Traffic Manager
Of the Southern Pacific Railroad Comna.
ny, was the first witness of the day, and
wac examined by Mr.. Tweed, counsel for
the railroad, inRupport OF the application
to have the temporary order suspendipp
the operation oil section OF the law msdo
permanent. p, II..
Having referred to the traffic over this
Central Pacific Railroad, Chairman Cooley
inquired how 1t happened that the wit.
mes. had anything to do with the Central
Pacific. y - 9ssE- y -"
He ereplied that the Central Pacific was
leased line operated as far as Ogden by
the Southern Pacific. -!
Witness said that, beginning in Febru.
ary, 1886, there had been virulent, bit.
ter war Of rates between the Pacific roads,
lasting up to the date Of the passage Of the
law. When the law passed the Southern
Pacific has re-adjunted its rates, diminish.
ing them in many cases, but incress.
ing them in no instance. The competi-
ton 10 be .met by the Pacific Railroad was
of three kinda: Sailing vessels around
Cape Horn, the Pacific Mail steamers via
Panama, and new factor, the Canada
Pacitic-which connected with San Fran.
cisco by means OF the Pacific coast steam.
ship lines. To bring all OF it's traffic down
to the level OF competing rates would
simply end in tho bankruptcy OF the rail-
road conpauy-that WAS evident.
As On ayerage, half cent per mile
would probably meet the expense Of
freight transportation between San Fran
cisco and the Missouri river. It paid to
carry sugar eastward at THE rate, as Il
avoided the necessity OF hauling empty
cars from the West 10 the east. This rate
was lower than that made by
the Canadian Pacific. The imme.
diste effect Of the application Of
tho law had been cessation OF bnsi.
ness by all routes except by the
Canada Pacific, the Pacific Mail and clip.
per ehips, but the real injury inflicted by
the act had scarcely had time to develop,
II 1t were enforced the effect would be 10
causo tho roads, totloso more by the re.
ducsion of intermediate traffic than the
gross earnings amounted to on through
traffic. y -, 80 ~
Among the petitions received by the
Commission to-day was one from the
Chamber OF Commerce OF Charleston, s.
o., asking the immediate enforcement Of
the fourth aectiou Of the law. Itaays:
"1n advocating the petition your memo
rlalists would state, in their opinion, that
the main purpoae and aim OF Congress in
passing this Interstate Commerce bill was
tho correction OF the continued discrimi-
nation against the unrestricted and gen.
eral exchange OF commodities by the great
railroad systems of this country. 1t seems,
therefore, to your petitioners only fair and
just that until the effect OF this bill upon
the varied intereots of our land is proven
by its enforcement to be injurious to any
particular class or section, yovr honorable
body. should delay exercising the discre-
ton vested in you Of suspending any Of
its provisions. .,z.l..i IS, ysir,.,S
g"We desire also to emphasize tho fact
that evidently the spirit OF the bill, Ia car
ried out, will tend to prevent UNEQUAL
and oppressive tariffs being laid upon the
trade or commerce OF one section OF the
territory In order to refund to these cor.
porations tho lops sustained in the car.
riage at less than actual cost Of freights ol
another section or territory. Your msmor.
alists therefore earnestly petition you to
enforce all the proviaioua .of this Inter
State Commerce bill, and particularly tht
fourth section, in order to equalizs thest
unjust and discriminating rates which
seem planned and carried into effect with
out any regard to the general good OF tn
welfare OF all the interesta affected b,
them.n yzsssfiS ;! Z.